Word Building
Prefixes
A prefix is a small part added to the start of a word to change its meaning.
1 Observe
Look at each word. Can you find a smaller word hiding inside it?
- Unhappy Not happy.
- Rewrite Write again.
- Preview A look at something before others see it.
- Misspell Spell a word wrongly.
2 Discover
Each word has a small part stuck on the front: un-, re-, pre-, mis-. These parts are called prefixes. Un- means 'not', re- means 'again'. If you know the prefix and the root word it is added to, you can often work out the meaning.
In the Gerund course: Unit 24 Vocabulary in Context
3 Apply
The bus to Mysuru came at a different time every day. Its timings were ____.
Ananya's first rangoli did not look the way she planned, so she felt ____.
Kabir read the question too fast and ____ it, so his answer missed the point.
4 Create
Pick a prefix from this lesson. Write one sentence using a word that starts with it.
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Example: Arjun had to rewrite his essay because he was unhappy with the ending.
5 Explore
Open the prefix cards. Find one prefix you already use and one that is new to you.